Adjustable grade iron fence



Oct. 22, 1940. GUSTAFSQN 2,218,953

ADJUSTABLE GRADE IRON FENCE Filed Aug. 7, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FlEi 4 /J// /H|S ATTOBI/NEY.

- Oct. 22, 1940.

G. A. GUSTAFS QN ADJUSTABLE GRAD E IRON FENCE Filed Aug. 7, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORZ z/firqf 4. yus TfiFeo/v,

Hi6 ATT, NEY.

Patented Oct. 22, 1940 PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE GRADE IRON FENCE Gustaf A. Gustaf son, Wauke gan, Ill; assign or to Cyclone Fence Company, a corporation of Illi nois Application August'i, 1939, Serial No. 288,855

' 3 Claims. (01. 256-22 The invention relates to improvements in fence structure and has more particular reference to an improved iron fence of the ornamental picket I type, and particularly one which is adjustable to the grade of the place of erection.

An object of the invention is to provide an ornamental iron fence which will be adjustable as to grade vso that the fence will not have to be built to particular specifications but can be manufactured in large quantities at a relatively low cost. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide an iron picket fence that can be fabricated either partly or entirely from sheet metals and which will fulfill all requirements of service ordinarily demanded of ornamental iron fencing.

Still another object is to provide an iron picket fence wherein the horizontal rails are fabricated from aplurality of parts stamped from sheet metal which are capable of holding the fence in assembled relation although permitting limited articulated .movement so that the fence can be adjusted to conform to the slope and contour of the ground at the place of erection.

A further object is to provide an ornamental iron fence of the character described wherein the horizontal rails and pickets will be held in assembled relation without the use ofwelding or v fastening means of any kind.

The invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and as particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth'in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative of several of the number of ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

In the drawings which illustrate an embodi ment of the invention and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the assembled fence of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the part of the fence of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional end elevation;

Figure 4 is a perspective of one of the locking members;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional end view of a modification; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary front elevation of the modification of Figure 5. The present fence is similar in appearance to the ornamental iron fence of the type having vertical pickets, although the horizontal rails of the present fence are fabricated from sections stamped from sheet metal. The pickets-thereof may also be stampedfrom sheet metal, although solid iron pickets maybe used if desired and are, a

therefore, to be considered as coming within the invention. I a 1 Referring toxFigure l, the fence of the invention may be described as comprising vertical pickets indicated bythe numeral .Ill heldin vertical position and in proper spaced relation by horizontal upper and-lower rails indicated generally by the numerals II and I2, respectively. As previously described, the pickets may be stamped from sheet metal, in which case they will be channelshaped in cross sectionsyor said pickets may be of solid iron (not shown). The upper ends of the pickets are preferably pointed, as at l3, in any desired decorative manner.

The upper and lower rails II and I2, respectively, are identical in'construction, each including a substantially U-shaped member 16 which is shownin inverted position" in Figure 3. The side walls of the substantially U-shaped member l6 are identical and outwardly bowed, as shown at IT, the outer extremities being inwardly curved to provide clamping surfaces [8, the function of which will be later described.

At spaced points along the length of the inverted substantially U-shaped members I6, the web or base portions l9 thereof areprovided with apertures 2i which, although larger, are shaped to conform to accommodate the vertical pickets Referring again to Figure 3, it will be noted that each of the vertical pickets I0 is provided with two horizontal slots, as at 23 and 24,'across the rearward faces thereof and adjacent the positions of the upper and lower rails II and I2, respectively. One of the horizontal slots 23 is considerably wider than the other slot 24 which is for a purpose to be later described.

The inverted substantially U-shaped members l6 receive, through their apertures 2|, the vertical pickets l0, and to some measure clamp the same in position by means of the clamping surfaces I8 on the lower extremities of the side walls l'l. However, it is desired to more positively lock each of the vertical pickets Ill with the upper and lower rails I l and I2, respectively, and for this purpose there is provided a locking member 25. Each locking member 25 comprises va web having a pointed extremity 2B; and is provided with a tapering rib 21 which is deformed from the plane thereof. These locking members are adapted; to be drivenbetween the side walls 5 I1 and the rearward faces of the vertical pickets In with their tapering ribs 2! occupying the norrower (24) of the adjacent horizontal slots of the pickets.

The upper and lower rails I I and i2, respectively, are first put in position after which the Vertical pickets are inserted. The locking members 25 are driven into position tapered end first, thereby providing a positive lock. Thus, the vertical pickets ID are prevented endwise movement, but the upper and lower rails II and I2, respectively, can be put on a grade because of the hinge effects obtained by the mounting of the vertical pickets ID.

The smaller of the horizontal slots 24 provides a definite lock with the rib 21 of the locking member 25, but the larger of the horizontal slots 23 provides sufiicient clearance to enable the swinging in either direction of the upper and lower rails H and I2, respectively.

Referring to Figure 6 of the drawings, a modified form of inverted substantially U-shaped member is disclosed. This member, designated l 6', embodies flat angular portions "5 at the inner and outer ends of the side walls II. The outer extremities of the side walls l'! are bent at right angles to the adjacent flat angular portions l6 to provide clamping surfaces l8. This form of inverted substantially U-shaped member provides more positive confinement of the looking member 25 because of the right angular seats formed at the ends of the side walls l1.

It is not necessary to weld any parts of the present fence nor are fastening means of any kind required. The parts are retained in associated relation simply by the cooperation of the inverted substantially U-shaped members IE or 16, vertical pickets l0 and locking members 25.

While I have shown and described several specific embodiments of the invention, I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim: 1. Fence structure of the ornamental iron type consisting of vertically disposed pickets supported by spaced upper and lower rails, each rail including a U-shaped member having apertures in its web to receive the vertically disposed pickets while permitting limited pivotal movement of the pickets, the ends of the legs of said U-shaped members having clamping contact with said pickets, and wedge-like members disposed between the pickets and one leg of each of the U-shaped members to hold the latter against displacement.

2. Fence structure of the ornamental iron type consisting of vertically disposed pickets supported by spaced upper and lower rails, each rail including a U-shaped member having apertures in its web to receive the vertically disposed pickets while permittinglimited pivotal movement of the pickets, the ends of the legs of said U-shaped 'members having clamping contact with said pickets, wedge-like members disposed between the pickets and one leg of each of the U'-shaped members to hold the latter against displacement, and a rib on the face of each wedge-like member which is most adjacent the picket, said picket having a groove to receive said rib.

3. Fence structure of the ornamental iron type consisting of vertically disposed pickets supported by spaced upper and lower rails, eachrail including a U-shaped member having apertures in its web to receive the vertically disposed pickets while permitting limited pivotal movementof the pickets, the ends of the legs of said U-shaped members having clamping contact with said pickets, wedge-like members disposed between the pickets and one leg of each of the U-shaped members to hold the latter against displacement, and a rib on the face of each wedge-like member which is most adjacent the picket, said picket having a groove to receive said rib and a larger groove to permit the limited pivotal movement of said rib.

GUS'I'AF A. GUSTAFSON. 

